Cup machine



May 6, 1941.

H. GREENHILL CUP MACHINE- Filed April 5. 1937 7- Sheets-Sheet 1 IQQN,

I wf@ .y 1 JKM/ZK May 6 1941 H. GREENHILL 2,240,503.

' CUP MACHINE Filed Apri1`5, v1957 7 sheets-sheet 2 May 6, 1941 H. GREENHILL 2,240,501

' cua MACHINE Filed April 5, 1937 '7 sheets-sheet s May 6, 1941. H. GRf-:Ew-HLL.

CUP MACHINE y Filed April 5, 1957 7 sheets-sheet 4 ZM U 7 n@ d, rif W .RN o W/ UV .am @www HN@ mw. NNN NNN E @N N mw. NQN www@ J AMay 6 1941- H. GRENHILI. 2,240,501

` cUP @1401111113 Filed April 5; 1957 7 sheets-sheet 'r may be produced. p

i Patented May 6, 1941 4UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

CUP MACHINE Harold Greenhill, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Dixie- Vortex Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation oi' Delaware A Application April s, 1937. serial No. 135,138

' (c1. sia-36.2)

8 Claims.

wherein suitably shaped blanks having an adhesive applied thereto are presented successively 'to a cup forming mandrel having novel means associated therewith for securing a cup blank thereto during the forming of a cup thereon, and having novel means incorporated in the construction of the mandrel for discharging a finished cup therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement whereby a presser roll 4is moved into operative relationship with themandrel to engage a blank thereon during the forming of a cup, and is moved out of relationship with the mandrel to permit a finished o r completed cup to be discharged therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine capable of high speed operation wherein the cup material is introduced and fed to the `machine in the form of an elongated relatively narrow strip from which the cup blanks are successively cut and presented to the forming mandrei and presser roll to be engaged thereby.

retaining the adhesive on the strip and blanks out yoi? engagement with the strip and blanky handling elements of the machine.

efficient in its operation and capable of extremely high speed in the production of cups.

A still further object of the invention is to im` prove machines' of the character described in sundry details hereinafter .referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One-embodiment of the present inventionr is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cup forming machine embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the machine taken as indicated and substantially within the limits indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an. elevational view taken as indicated and substantially within the limits indicated by the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of the cup forming mandrel and presser roll structures, and of the mountings therefontaken substantially as indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the blank cutting mechanism and taken substantially as indicated by the line 6-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig.. l is a fragmentary elevational View similar to a portion of Fig. 6 illustrating the manner of assembling certain of the blank cutting elements.

Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views, respectively, of the upper and lower blank cutting dies Fig. l0 is a perspective view of a stripper adapted to be operatively related to the upper or movable cutting die illustrated in Fig. 8; y

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view through a portion of the presser roll mounting-and taken substantially as indicated by thev line iI-Ii of Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged elevational view of a I Y valve and associated operating mechanism for Another object of the invention is to provide a' completely automatic machine for feeding a strip of cup material, applying adhesive thereto,

cutting the strip into .cup blanks, forming ythe blanks into cups and discharging the finished cups from the machine, the operating mechanism of the machine being so arranged as to con--l tribute materially to the accuracy, speed'and enlciency with which cups of the character described controlling airunder pressure employed for dischargingthe cups from the cup forming mandrel,

the view being taken substantially 'as indicated by the line i2--I2 of Fig. 1.

2 Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional elevational view through avalve, similar to the one shown in Fig.v V

' to, the section being rtaken substantially as indicated by the line |3-i 3 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 14, and lG-are semi-diagrammatic illustrating a series of successive steps in the cutting of a cup blank and the formation of a cup therefrom;

Fig. 17 is a plan view illustrating, on a. relatively small scale', a cup blank employed in the formation of a cup by the steps illustrated in Figs. 11i to 16, inclusive; and

Fig. 18 is a perspective View illustrating a finished cup as formed and completed in a machine of the character illustrated.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrative em-v bodiment of the present invention shown therein comprises, generally, a frame 2i (Fig. 2) having 'numeral 23 located preferably adjacent the opposite end portion of the frame and operatively related to a cup forming roll or mandrel 24 shown, in the present instance, as of coneshaped form and a presser rolt 25, also of coneshaped form, operativelyv related thereto in a manner to receive a cup blank indicated at B cut from a strip of cup material A by the cutting means 23, and operable to form a cup on. the mandrel 24.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the cup material A may be supplied to the machine from a, roll C mounted at one end of the fra-me t?!I and the strip A drawn therefrom around a plurality of guide rollers v26, 2l and 28 by a plurality of pairs of feed rol-1ers 29-3! and 32---36'y the said feed rollers being adapted to be driven by a' main drive shaft, 34 rotatably mounted in the frame 2l, the shaft 34 being provided with a pinion 35 (Fig. 3) operatively related toa pinion 35 for driving the feed roller 32, while the feed roller 3l is operatively connected to the drive shaft 34- by means of a chain 31 (Figs. 1 and 2), and the between the spaced adhesive 41 and cooperable with a lower die 62 mounted in the frame 2| for severing the strip to form a cup blank of the form and character clearly shown in Figs. 14 and 17.

The upper cutting die 59 is mounted on the underside of a spacer 63 secured to a head 6s vertically movable in Ways 55 mounted on the frame 2i, and is normally retained in raised position by springs 56 (Figs. 3 and 6). For moving the head 5t and cutting die 59 downwardly in a manner to sever the strip A into cup blanks B, a rock shaft 8l* is rotatably mounted in brackets te carried by the frame 2t and provided adjacent to provide annularly spaced contact surfaces 44 l roller 42 is operatively connected to the stubA shaft 49 through a. plurality of gears indicated at 5|, 52 and 53 (Fig. 2). The adhesive applying roller 46 isoperatively connected to the roller 42 by a pair of pinions 54 and 5% (Fig. i), the latter being operatively connected to the roller 4G and mounted on a swing-ing frame 56 which may be secured to a portion of the frame 2i by means of a spring actuated lpin 5l for re. taining the roller 45 in operative position with respect to the strip of cup material* A in its passage through the machine.

head 3d and cutting die 59 carried thereby in a downward direction against the action of. the springsv 65 and in a manner to sever a cup blank E: from the strip A ai: a. point between the spaced adhesive 'il thereon.

As illustrated in. Figs. 2 3 and 16, the upper cutting die 59 is provided with a yieldably mounted stripper l5 to insure proper functioning of the cutter in relation to thel strip A of cup `material as it is fed through the machine,

and it will be noted by reference to Fig. 10 that the stripper. 15 is provided with a recess I6 in its lower edgeportion adjacent one end thereof tol permit the adhesivel 41 on the strip A to pass beneath the stripper l5 without com-ing in contact therewith.

Slightly in advance of or substantially simultaneously with the severing. of a blank B from the strip A of cup materiall by the cutter 59, the leading edge portion H (Figs. 14, 15 and 1-7) of the-blank B is engaged between. the rotatable cup forming mandrel 24 and the rotating presser rolt B5 operating to press the cup blank rmly against the mandrel 24 duri-ng the formation of a cup thereon. y

For rotating the mandrel 24 in proper relation with. respect to the strip material feeding and blank cutting mechanism, the mandrel 124 is mounted on one end of a` hollow shaft '58.

rotatable on the frame 2t in bearings 18a and having a sprocket 19- secured lto the shaft 'I8 and a chain. 3| (Figs. l and 2) trained around the sprocket I9 and a sprocket @2 on a stub shaft 83 rotatably mounted in a bearing 84 mounted on the frame 2i, the shaft 83 being operatively corrnected through a universal connection 85 with a shaft 8G also rotatably mounted on the frame 2| and having a pinion 81 secured toits outer end and adapted to mesh with a cooperating pinion 88 mounted on one end of the shaft 89 rotatably mounted on the frame 2i and a sprocket si secured to its opposite end portion and adapted to receive a chain 92 driven by a relatively larger sprocket 93 mounted on the main drive shaft 34, thereby providing a driving connection between the shaft 34 and mandrel 24 to produce proper speed ratios for insuring the operation and rotation of the mandrel 24 in proper rel-ation with respect to the feeding of the strip A and the severing of the blanks B therefrom.

Mounted also on the hollow shaft 18 is a bevel pinion 94 operatively related to a bevel pinion 95 secured to an axially movable shaft 96 rotatably mounted in bearings 91 and 98 on the frame 2|,

" and to which the presser roll 25 is connected for rotating the presser roll in proper relation with respect to the mandrel 24.

For releasably `securing the leading edge portion 11 of a blank B to the mandrel 24 during the rotation thereof and the forming of a, cup thereon, the mandrel 24 is provided with a sucker opening 99 (Figs. 5, 14 and 15) communicating with one end of an elongated opening or passage |0| formed in and shown, in the present instance, as extending axially of the hollow shaft 18, the opposite end of the passage |0| 'communicating with a T-flrtting |02 having a suction pipe |03 connected thereto, the said suction pipe being adapted to communicate through a pipe |04 with suitable suction producing means (not shown) as, for example, a vacuum pumpV or the like, for producing at the sucker opening 99 of the mandrel 24, a suction for securing the leading edge portion 11 of a blank B vto the mandrel during the rotation thereof and the forming of a cup thereon.

- For controlling the -suction in the passage |0| and suclzer opening 99 in proper relation with respect to the movements of the cup material strip A and cup blanks B through the machine, a valve indicated, as a whole, by the numeral |05 (Figs. l, 4 and 13) is positioned between the suction pipes |03 and |04 and comprises a housing |06 having a chamber |01 formed therein and provided with a valve seat |08 adapted to be engaged by a valve member |09 for controlling the passage -of air through the housing |06 from the, intake side thereof adjacent the pipe |03 to the outlet .or vacuumv side of the housing adjacent the pipe |04. For controlling the position of the valve member |09 and the operation of the valve |05 in proper relation with respect to the movements ofthe cup material-and the formation of a cup therefrom, a lever is pivotally mounted on a fixed stud or shaft |2 and provided adjacent 1 one of its ends with a lifter arm ||3 adapted to shaft 34, .the cam ||6 being provided with a lobe ||1.of substantial dimensions for lifting and retaining the valvernember |09 away from or out of engagement with the se'at |09 for a substantial length of time to enable the suction at the sucker tatable with the bevel pinion 95 and longitudinally or axially movable with respecty thereto and to the bearings 91 and 98 by reason of a sliding connection between a key or spline ||9 on the shaft 96 and the bevelled pinion 95. The shaft 96 is provided with a shoulder |2`| adapted to be4 engaged by one side of. a collar |22, the opposite side of the collar being engaged by a spring |23 operating between the collar |22 and a collar |24 secured against endwise movement on the shaft 96 by the bearing 99, the spring |23 acting to yieldingly urge the presser roll in an axial direction and at an angle'to the axis of rotation of the mandrel 24 in a manner to yieldingly engage a cup blank B secured to the mandrel, and to suitably and yieldingly press the blank against the mandrel during. the formation of a cup thereon.

For moving the presser roll 25 and shaft 496 in the opposite direction away from the mandrel 24 to permit the discharge of a finishedcup rtherefrom, the outer or opposite end of the shaft `98 is provided with an annularly grooved collar |25 adapted to receive the inwardly extending trunnions |26 of a shipper fork |21 secured to one end of a rock shaft |28 rotatably mounted` present instance, as pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at |35 on the frame 2|, the opposite end portion of the lever |34' being provided with an anti-friction roller |39 adapted to be engaged by a cam |31-secured tothe main drive shaft 34 and operative `to rock the-arm |34 about its pivot |35 and the rock shaft |28 in its bearing |29 in a manner to move the presser roll 25 and shaft 96 axially in the bearings 91 and V98 against the action of the spring |23 in a manner to release a finished or completed cup formed on the mandrel 24. i

vFor discharging a completed cup from the mandrel 24, the mandrel is provided, preferably, with a plurality of blow-off ports |38 (Figs. 1, 2, 5, 14 and 15) extending outwardly through portions of the mandrel to the louter surface thereof and communicating at their inner ends with one end of a tubular member |39 (Fig, 5)

- positioned axially within the hollow shaft 1-8 and in spaced relation with respect to the walls of the suction passage |0| formedtherein, the opposite end of the tubular member |39 being rotatably mounted in aiitting |-4| secured at its' inner end to the T-.fitting |02 and having an opening 99 of the mandrel 24 to operate upon the. leading edge portion 11of a cup blank B during formation of a cup, the lower side or dwell of the cani |19 permitting the spring ||8`of the valve |05 to close the-valve after the formation of the cup is completed to permit its discharge roll 25 to 'engage a cup blank B `during the formation of a cup on the mandrel 24 and for' releasing i' thecupto be discharged therefrom when completed. thepresser roll 25 and shaft 99 are ro-A elbow |42 secured to its outer end connected to an air pressure pipe |43 communicating through a pipe |44 with a source of air pressure supply (not shown) as, for example, an air compressor or the like.

For controlling the air pressure in the tubular member |39 and at the blow-o ports |38 formed in the mandrel 24 for discharging a completed cup therefrom, a valve indicated, as a whole, by the numeral |45 and of a construction substantially like that shown in Fig. 13 and described with reference to the suction -control means, is

mandrel 24 in proper relation tothe feeding 0fv the cup material to the mandrel'24 and the formation of a completed cup thereon, a valve actuating lever |48 is pivotally mounted at |69 n a bracket carried by the frame 2| and is provided with an end portion |52 engageable with the valve stem |46, and having its opposite end portion |53 provided with an anti-friction roller |5d adapted to be engaged by a cam |55 secured to the main .drive shaft 3Q, the cam |55 having a lobe |56 thereon for depressing the end portion |53 of the lever |48 and elevating the end portion |52 engageable with the valve stem' |46 for opening the valve to permit a charge of compressed air at the blow-on ports |36 for discharging a completed cup from the mandrel 2Q when the presser roll 25 has been withdrawn from engagement therewith,

For trimming the open end portion or edge |51 of a cup |58 (Fig. 18) along a line indicated at D (Fig. 17) a rotary cutting disc or knife |55 (Figs. l, 2 and 16) is secured to one end of a shaft |6| rotatably mounted in ya bearing |62 formed integrally with one of the bearings 18a in which the hollow shaft 13 is mounted, and secured to the opposite end of the shaft 6| -is a pinion |63 operatively related toa pinion lot secured to the shaft 18 in a manner to be driven thereby.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 14 to 18, inclusive, of the drawings, it will lbe noted particularly by reference to Fig. I4 that the strip A of cup matef rialvis projected in the direction of the arrow E beyond the cutting edge 6|, indicated at F, of the die 59 until the leading edge portion of the strip is positioned between the mandrel v2d and presser roll 25 where the said leading edge portion is releasably secured to the mandrel 24 by suction atvthe sucker opening 99. Substantially at the same time or immediately thereafter, the strip A is severed along the line F and between the adhesive 41 by the cutting edge 6| of the cutter 56 (Figs. 2 and 14) in a manner to form a cup blank Bhaving a. forwardly projecting tab |65 formed thereon, thereafter, by reason of the rotation of the mandrel 24, Ithe blank B is drawn from the cutter as shown in Fig. and wrapped around the mandrel 24 to form-a cone-shaped cup, and as the wrapping of the blank continues and the formation of the cup progresses, the adhesive 41, by reason of the action of theA presser roll 25, is pressed'flrmly and securely against a portion of the outer side of the blank to secure the edge portion adjacentl the adhesive thereto, and as the formation of the cup further prograsses, the adhesive will be squeezed outwardly onto the tab |55 in a manner to secure the tab to the outer side of' the iinished cup, as shown in Fig. 18, whereupon the suction at the sucker opening 99 is discontinued and air under pressure permitted to enter the tubular member |39 and blow-off ports |38 to discharge the finished cup from the mandrel, it being understood that durthe dotted line D (Fig. 17) by thecutting knife or disc |59.

I It will 4he understood also that after severing 'the strip A along the line F to form a cupi blank Btht the edge of the strip A adjacent the cutter then becomes a leading edge portion as indicated be positioned adjacent the cutting edge 6| of the ing the rotation of the mandrel andthe formation of the cup thereon, the edge portion |51 of the cup |58 will have been trimmedas indicated by 65 again acts through its connection with the shaft'A cutter 59 and there severed-to form a subsequent or following blank indicated at B'.

For retaining the adhesive 41 on the blank B out oiengagement with the cutter 59, as it is drawn therefrom 4by the rotation of the mandrel (Figs. l, 2 and la) may be positioned above and.

below the strip A adjacent one of its longitudinal edge portions for guiding the projecting end of the strip between the mandrel 2li and presser roll 25.

For driving the main shaft 3d, a sprocket |69, for example, (Fig. l) may be secured to one end. of the shaft andconnected by means of a chain lil to a suitable source of power (not shown) such, for example, as an electric motor or the like, by which, through suitable driving connections, the entire mechanism of the cup making machine may be operated.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that the operation of the machine is substantially es follows:

Assuming tnat power has been applied to the drive shaft 36, the strip of cup material A is drawn from the supply roll C through the ma chine by the feed rollers 29-3i and 62-32 and past the adhesive applying roller 46 by which an adhesive is applied. to the strip A at spaced in-I tervals along one edge thereof as illustrated in Figs. 1 and le. The strip A in its continued f movement is projected -by the feed rolls between upper and lower cutting dies e@ and 62, respectively, to position the leading edge portion il of the strip between the cup forming mandrel 2d and presser roll 25 adjacent the sucker opening S19-of the mandrel. The said leading edge portion 'il of the strip is then releasably secured to the mandrel by suction through the operation of the cam M6 to open the suction valve |96, and at approximately` the same time, through the operationv of the cam |31, the presser roll 26 is moved into engagement with the edge portion ori the strip by the spring |23 and the strip severed .by the cutting edge 6| of the die 59 through the operation of the cams 'I4 acting through the arms 12, rock shaft 61 and arm 69 to force the head 64 and.' cutting 69 mounted thereon downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 2, whereupon the rotation of the mandrel 24 and presser roll 25 act 'to draw the blank B, formed-by the cutting of the strip, away from the cutting mechanism and wrap the blank around the mandrel 24 into cup form, during which operation the cutting disc or knife |59 acts to trim the-edgev of the cup and the presser roll serves to press the adhesive 41- against the outer sides of the cup and onto the tab |86 of the blank for securing the edge portion thereof adjacent the adhesive and the tab |66 to the sides of the finished cup Ias illustrated in Fig. 16.' A 4 Upon completion of the cup' |68, the cam itl 96 to move the presser roll 26 in an axial direc--v tion out ofl engagement with the nlshed cup, whereupon, through rthe operation of thecain |55, the blow-on valve |41 is opened to permit air under pressure to pass through the tubular member |39 and blow-off vports |38 formed in they mandrel 24 for discharzing the nlsbed cup therefrom, immediately following whichl the audaci formation of a subsequent cupA intlthe' manner tively related to said shaft for feeding a strip of cup material through the machine, an adhesive of cup material fed continuously to the machine, and wherein the construction and arrangement axis of rotation of said mandrel for securing the 'Y leading edge portion of a blank thereto, a rotatable presser roll axially movable in one direction to engage a blank/on said mandrel 'during the forming of a cup thereon and movable in the opposite direction torelease the cup when completed, said mandrel having a tip end portion formed integrally therewith and having'bloswoff ports formed thereincommunicating with :an air pressure supply passage coaxial with the axis of rotation of said mandrel for discharging a completed cup therefrom, .and means for controlling the suction and pressure in said passages. l

2. In a cup forming machine, a main` drive shaft, means driven by said shaft for feeding a strip of cup material through the machine, an adhesive applying roller operatively vrelated to said shaft to be driven thereby and having peripherally spaced contact surfaces engageable with said material for applying adhesive thereto at spaced intervals. a cutting die actuated by the rotation of said shaft and engageablevwith said strip between` the spaced adhesive thereon for cutting the strip into cup blanks, a, rotatable cone-shaped cup forming mandrel operatively related to said shaft and having a sucker opening communicating with a suction passage coaxial with the axis of rotation of said mandrel for secu-ring the leading edge portion of a blank thereto, a rotatable cone-shaped presser roll having an axis of rotation positioned at an angle to the axis of said mandrel, means operatively related -to said presser roll and` said Ashaft for moving the presser roll axially in one` direction of said mandrel and within and separated from said suction passage for discharging a completed cupfrom said mandrel, a pair of valves operatively related, respectively, to said passages, and means on said shaft operatively related to said valves for controlling the suction and pressure in the respective passages in accordance with the applying roller having portions engageable with said strip for applying adhesive `thereto at spaced intervals 'along an edge thereof, a cutting die engageable with usaid strip between the adhesive thereon for cutting the strip into cup fblanks,

. means mounted on said frame and operatively related to said ushaft for actuating said die, a rotatable cup forming mandrel and cooperating presser roll adapted to engage a cup blank cut from said strip and remove the blank from said die, certain 'of said feed rollers having a portion of reduced diameter adjacent the adhesive on said strip, and a deilector on said cutting die engageable with a portion of the cup blank for holding the adhesive thereon out of engagement with the die as the blank is drawn therefrom yby said mandrel and presser roll.`

4. In a cup forming machine, a frame. a hoilow shaft rotatably mounted thereon, a cup forming' mandrel on said shaft having a sucker opening formed in one side of .the mandrel communicating with the interior of the shaft, said mandrel having a blow-off port extending outwardly 'i through a portion thereof to the surface of the mandrel, a tubular member positioned in the interior of .said vhollow shaft-axially thereof and in spaced relation thereto and extending longitudinally thereof, .said tubular member communicating with a pressure conducting pipe and said blow-off port for conducting air under pressure to said 'port for'disch-arging a; finished cup from said mandrel. I

v5. In a cup forming machine, a frame, a hol low shaft rotatably mounted thereon, a cup forming mandrel mounted on said shaft and having a sucker opening formed in one side of the mandrel and a blow-0E port extending outwardly through a portion of the mandrel to the surface thereof, and a tubular member positionedin the interior of said hollow shaft axially thereof and in spaced relation thereto and extending longitudinally thereof to provide a suction passage communicating with a suction pipe and said sucker opening, said tubular member communicating with a pressure conducting pipe and saidblow-oi port for conducting air under pressure to said port for discharging a iinished cupfrom said mandrel.

6. In a cup forming machine, a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted thereon, said shaft having an elongated opening` formed therein and extending axially thereof, a cup forming mandrel mounted on one end of said shaft and having a sucker opening formed in one side of the mandrel and a plurality of annularly spaced blowoil' ports extending outwardly through a portion of the mandrel to the surface thereof,v and a tubular member positioned axially in the t elongated opening in said shaft and in spaced forming and completion of a cup on said mandrel.

3. In a cup forming machine, a frame, a main A drive shaft rotatably mounted therein, a plurality of pairs of cooperating feed rollers operashaft rotatably mounted on said frame, said hollow shaft having an elongated opening formed opening, said tubular member communicating at.

one of its ends with a pressure conducting pipe and at its opposite end withsaid blow-ori ports for conducting air under pressure thereto, a cone-shaped presser roll rotatably mounted on said frame and having an axis extending at an angle to the axis of said hollow shaft, said presser roll being axially movable to engage a cup blank adjacent said mandrel, means in said suction and pressure pipes, respectively, for ecn-- vtrolling the suction at s'aid sucker opening and the pressure at said blow-oil' ports, and means operatively related to said main drive shaft for actuating said valves. i

8. In a machine for forming a cup from a" blank oi flexible material, a frame, a main drive shaft rotatably mounted therein, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted on said frame and operatively related to said drive shaft, said hollow shaft having an. elongated opening-therein and e1:- tending axially thereof, a cup forming conesdoi therein and extending axially thereof, a cup .il i mounted on one end of seid hollow shaft and having a sucker opening farmed in one side of the mandrel, said mandrel having a plurality of annularly spaced blow-ofi ports extending outwardly through a portion cf the mandrel to the surface thereof, a tubular m positioned axially in the elongated o in said hollow shaft and in spaced relation to the walls of said opening to provide a r w p s: a in said hollow shaft outside said tubular member communicating at one of its lends with a suction pipe and at its opposite end with said suckery opening, said tubular member communicating at one of its ends with a. pressure conducting pipe and at its opposite end with said blow-off ports for conducting air under pressure theretda cone-shaped presser roll havlng a driving connection with said hollow shaft and rotatably mounted on said frame about an exis extending at an angle to the axis of said hollow shaft, said presser roll being axially movstile to engage a cup blank adjacent said mandrei, means for supplyingl cup blanks to said mandrel and presser roll to be engaged thereby, valves in said suction and pressure pipes, respectively, for controlling, respectively the suction at said sucker opening to secure the leading edge of a blank to said mandrel and for controiling ,the pressure at said blow-off ports to discharge a nished cup from the mandrel, and said main drive shaft for actuating the HARoL GREENHILL. 

